Obituary of Douglas Joseph Harold LAVOIE

November 29, 1921 – Kenora, Ontario
December 30, 2019 – Edmonton, Alberta

Douglas Lavoie, beloved husband of Marie (nee Copps) of Calgary, passed away on Monday, December 30, 2019 at the age of 98 years

Douglas was born in Kenora, ON on November 29, 1921 to Alfred Lavoie, and Marguerite Begg.  He grew up in Kenora, ON, spending many happy years there.  He loved music and was part of the Glee club and school band.  Dougla’s love for Kenora is legendary and his stories of his childhood antics were entertaining. However, there were also sad times, especially when Douglas was fourteen years old, his mother passed away.  Douglas had five siblings – predeceased by Allan, Ruth, Lawrence and Jim; only his youngest sister Edna survives.

At the age of twenty, Douglas joined the army to fight in the Second World War. He was assigned to the Fort Garry Horse Regiment, Winnipeg.  Douglas drove a specialized amphibious tank on D-day and landed at Juno Beach-Beny-sur-mer. He was part of the assault wave: June 6, 1944. Douglas and his tank crew continued through Falaise and Caen and then the battle for the liberation of the port city of Boulogne.  His tank was hit during the battle on September 17, 1944. He was blown out of the tank and only two of his crew survived. Douglas was sent to England to recover from his wounds, but was very quickly sent back to Holland to continue to help liberate Holland. He was in Oldenburg, Germany on May 8th when the war ended.

Upon his return to Canada in 1945, Douglas began University studies in Geology at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg.  He graduated with honours in Geology in 1950. Before finishing his degree, Douglas married the love his life: Marie Coops on May 8th 1950 and for those who knew them, he loved to tell the story of their meeting: something to do with a dance, a glance across a crowded room as the song “Some Enchanted Evening" began to play.

Soon after graduation, Douglas was hired by Imperial Oil and from then continued a long and successful career in the Oil Industry throughout Alberta – working for several large companies, several small independent ones and finally consulting on his own. Douglas loved his work and continued until his 70’s!

During all of his years working, he was also busy caring for his growing family of eleven children. One of his other loves was sports from racquetball to cross country skiing. At the age of fifty-seven, he cycled with his youngest son from Calgary all the way to Vancouver Island. Douglas enjoyed camping and the outdoors and instilled this love in his children by taking them on many camping trips and adventures.  Also, his love of music was well known; he was always ready for a sing along and ready to take out his harmonica to entertain wherever he was.

When Douglas’ health declined in his later years, he and Marie moved to Edmonton. There he received tremendous care from his beloved wife Marie and family; a special word of thanks to their daughter Paula and grand-daughter Eileen.

Besides his beloved wife of sixty-nine  years, Douglas is survived by his eleven children, Marguerite, John (Janet) Yvonne, Joseph, William, Paula (John), Sr. Anthony “Suzanne” Missionary of Charity, Gerard, David (Maria), Teresa (Aung) , and Peter (Leah); thirty-five grandchildren’ and nine great-grandchildren; he is also survived by his youngest sister Edna Phillips.

He was predeceased by daughter-in-law Monica; and grandson Peter Paul.

Relatives and friends are invited to Prayers and Tributes at Sacred Heart Catholic Church (1307 – 14th Street S.W., Calgary, AB) on Thursday, January 2, 2020 at 7:00 p.m.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Catholic Church (1307 – 14th Street S.W., Calgary, AB) on  Friday, January 3, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. Graveside Service to follow at Queen’s Park Cemetery.  Reception to follow in the Parish Hall. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Douglas’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com.

If friends so desire, donations can be made directly to Missionaries of Charity  (Saint Mother Teresa's order) Designate it for the house in Gonaives, Haiti where their daughter Sr. Anthony is assigned. https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/the-missionaries-of-charity-manitoba-inc/

A tree will be planted in living memory of Douglas Lavoie. McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Chapel of the Bells, 2720 CENTRE STREET NORTH, CALGARY, AB, T2E 2V6,   Telephone: 403-243-8200.